Right in Our Region
Time to Cruise on a St. Charles Riverboat By Sara Myers
T
he St. Charles Park District’s Paddlewheel Riverboats are back in season and cruising along the Fox River now through October. Both weekend and weekday cruises depart from Pottawatomie Park in downtown St. Charles and travel north along the Fox River. At Red Gate Road, the boat turns around and begins its return downriver. The picturesque cruise, which includes a pre-recorded narrative about several points of interest, passes a quiet stretch of the river where two forest preserves, a corporate retreat and lots of private estates guard the water. Wildlife and tree cover come in abundance. “The Norris Woods Nature Preserve is a beautiful natural wetland park, and the cruise gives you great views of that,” says Tera Harvey, manager of cruise
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Smart Living Live
May/June 2021
operations at St. Charles Park District Music playing over the sound system sets Paddlewheel Riverboats. “We go past the mood for a picturesque view as shadBoy Scout Island, and then we head into ows and warm sunset tones fall upon the Pottawatomie Park. It’s a different perriverbanks and birds chatter their goodspective, and you see things you’ve never nights from the tree cover. had the chance to see before.” “Guests are welcome to bring a bottle There are many ways to enjoy the of wine, maybe their favorite beer aboard, riverboat this summer, from a traditional and pack a picnic,” says Harvey. “Those daytime cruise to special adults-only or are about an hour and 15 minutes long.” private-charter gatherings. The sunset cruises, which run on select evenings from June through October, disembark according to the day’s sunset time. Remember, it’ll be latest around June and July. Depending on the day, this cruise can be familyfriendly or adults-only with bring-your-own drinks. Adults-only booze cruises run on select evenings this summer.
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